Mental Health Research Programme

The Centre is collaborating with the Forces in Mind Trust and the King's Centre for Military Health Research (part of King's College London) in a mental health research programme for ex-Service personnel.

“We know that most Armed Forces veterans make a successful transition to civilian life, but that some face a range of mental health difficulties for which they need extra support. We are delighted to be working with the Forces in Mind Trust to develop research that will build the evidence base about how best to support ex-Service personnel and their families with their mental health needs.”

Sean Duggan, Chief Executive, Centre for Mental Health

The Forces in Mind Trust (FiMT) was established in 2012 to help ex-Service personnel and their families make a successful transition back to civilian life. Since then, FiMT has worked hard to develop an understanding of the mental health environment, and to identify where the Trust can best deploy its finite resources to maximum effect. As part of this the Centre for Mental Health worked in partnership with Kings College, and Forces in Mind Trust, to support the development of the Mental Health Research Programme, which launched in October 2015.

The Research Programme aims to stimulate and fund research into ex Service personnel’s mental health, and has an annual disbursement of £1 million for up to 5 years. It is overseen by a steering group of experts, co-chaired by the Centre’s Chief Executive Professor Sean Duggan, and Professor Sir Simon Wessely, co-Director of KCMHR, King’s College London, and President of the Royal College of Psychiatrists. The steering group recommends the Programme’s strategic direction, and provides expert assessment to FiMT of relevant project proposals.

The programme has six core research priorities (of equal importance):

Alcohol and substance misuse, including effective and appropriate interventions.

The usefulness of services aimed specifically at veterans (including peer support workers).

Methods to improve help-seeking rates, and barriers to help-seeking.

The efficacy of military and veteran charities to provide effective mental health support.

The effectiveness of a ‘Recovery’ based model for the veteran population, including a wider focus on employment and debt management.

Impact on families, including aggressive behaviour, violence and domestic abuse.

The programme will push forward our understanding of the needs of ex-Service Personnel with mental health problems and how best to support them and their families when they need it. We are delighted to be a key partner in this important work.

To find out more about the programme and how you can apply for funding, please visit Forces in Mind Trust.

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